Six weeks later

 

Tank sat and stared at the clear glass partition as he waited. He’d come to terms with what he had to do. Annie had helped him. She’d sat with him night after night as he read each and every letter, every apology, every plea for forgiveness.

Being in a room with so many officers would usually have him breaking out in a sweat, yet his hands were eerily dry, even though the man of his nightmares would soon walk into the room and sit down to talk to him.

Being in a police station so frequently after his last nightmare, giving statement after statement, he’d learned to conquer his fears. And Beauty had been by his side every step of the way.

The love of his life had forgiven Brayden so easily for his mistakes. The young officer confessed to aiding the monster unaware of the end goal: The address searches, following Tank home from the camping trip, sleeping with the young girl for information, and even using burner phones to make the crank call. But through all that he swears he had no idea Duke planned to kidnap or murder anyone.

Scared of his own future in prison for having relations with an underage girl, he followed through with the monster’s plans, but declared he couldn’t follow through with intentions to kill.

Despite Brayden’s ill choices, if the man hadn’t followed his gut, and followed Duke into the woods at a safe distance, Tank might not be alive today. And despite all the man’s wrong doings, Annie saw it in her heart to forgive the guy, claiming if he had of ignored his gut, she would have lost the one true love of her life.

Me.

Annie claimed he was more important to her than holding any grudge against someone scared for their own fate, and she’d been right.

The past was in the past. She’d taught him that. He needed to face his demons, so he could move on with his future. With her.

Slowly, the man he’d thought for twenty-seven years as his father walked to the seat across from him. He’d aged exponentially in the past several years. His once large and towering frame seemed gaunt and small. Nothing to be afraid of.

Being here was the right thing. No longer would he let this man and his past control him.

The person sitting across from him picked up the phone, and Tank did the same.

“You came.” His father’s voice sounded much scratchier than in years past.

“I did.”

“Did you read my letters?”

Tank stared at his dad, his eyes filled with dejection and hope all at the same time. His own heart split down the middle. Still, after all these years and all the hate, he still felt something for the man. Endearment? Like? Love? He couldn’t pinpoint the emotion, and more importantly, he had no idea how it was even possible. But he did know, no matter what, he would never be like the person that sat across from him. His blood was not in Tank’s veins. He was his past.

“I did,” Tank said, determined to keep the emotion out of his voice.

“I’ve got a hearing soon. Early parole.”

“I’m not…” He clenched the phone tighter. “I’m not here to make small talk. I’m not here to talk about your parole. I’m here to tell you I read the letters, and I forgive you.”

Glazed eyes stared back at him. Eyes filled with a genuine happiness, the lines of the old man’s face turning up with his smile. “Thank you, son. Thank you.”

He didn’t have the heart to tell the man he wasn’t his real son.

“But understand, that doesn’t mean I can forget. I’ll never forget. I wish you no harm, but we can never have a relationship. Do you understand?”

The once happy features turned down as quick as they had come up. “Yes. I understand.”

“Good luck with your parole. I hope you find happiness in life.”

Tank hung up the phone, the click of the receiver indicating the beginning of the end, as he stared at the man he had called dad for so many years for the last time. While a heavy burdened lifted from his chest, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the shell of a person sitting across from him.

Still, it was all over.

He could burn the letters, and leave his past behind where it belonged.

Start new.

Fresh.

With Annie.

His phone rang in his back pocket as his feet hit the pavement of the prison parking lot. Steele. “Hey man. What’s up?”

“Dude, where are you?”

“Just had some business to take care of. What’s going on?”

“Father is calling a mandatory meeting tonight. He’s got some families that need to be on our radar. Seven o’clock.”

Tank glanced at his watch. Five. He needed every bit of the two hours to get home, and he had other plans tonight. Plans he’d been working on for weeks.

Shit.

“Man, I’m not in Black Widow. I’m on my way home now, but that’ll be pushing it.”

“Just get here, and be careful. I’ll pass the message along.”

“Yeah, yeah, okay.”

He tossed his helmet on and saddled his bike. He and Father still weren’t on the best of terms yet. That’s why the man didn’t call him himself. Hopefully, they could resolve their issues, and soon. He was ready to have a family. A mother. A father. A wife.

Five after seven, he pulled through the parking lot of the barn. A few extra cars sat in the grass. The lot was void of any people, everyone already inside.

Shit.

The meeting must’ve been important to warrant this many Guardians, and he was late.

He threw down his kickstand and tore off his helmet, placing it on the handle of his bike before he pushed through the barn doors.

A giant crowd gathered in the middle. He stopped and stared, taking in all the guests just as their hands rose in the air and they all screamed a boisterous. “Surprise.”

“What the…?”

Annie ran to him and placed her arms around him. “Surprise, baby.” She placed a kiss on his lips.

“Surprise for what?” He wrapped an arm around her. He’d take a kiss from Beauty anytime.

Father ambled toward him. “For being the newest member of the Blue Guardians.” The man held up a new, black leather jacket with the angel insignia and a spider crawling up the sleeve.

He took the jacket, the weight thick and solid in his hands. The size on the tag read the jacket would be a perfect fit. “But I don’t understand. It hasn’t been a year yet.”

It hadn’t even been four months.

“We took a vote. It was unanimous. You’ve proved you’re worthy. Good job, son.” Father slapped him on the arm.

His mother stood out in the crowd and blew him a kiss. Bear and Mary stood near her. The boy gave him a thumbs up, and ran his other hand over Al’s fur.

He wrapped Father, his father, in a hug. “Thanks…Dad.”

The crowd hooted as he embraced his dad. He pulled back to notice the man had a tear in his eye. “You crying, old man?”

“Naw.” He wiped his eyes. “My eyes just sweat sometimes, that’s all.”

“Eye sweats. That’s a new one.” He laughed and slapped his real dad on the back.

“Speech,” Steele hollered from the middle of the crowd.

“Yeah, speech,” JoJo yelled.

“Speech? Oh man.” Tank held up his jacket then glanced at Annie.

Beauty gave him a sly smile and his heart puddled at his feet. His past, his present, his future, all coming full circle, and every bit of it contained her. She was his reason. He knew what he had to say.

“I came to Black Widow to join the Blue Guardians. I knew I never wanted a kid to suffer like I did as a child. I thought if I could prevent one kid, just one from having to go through what I did, then my time joining this group would be worth it.” He shot a glance back at Bear.

“What I didn’t expect was to make new friends, find out the identity of my real father, and meet the love of my life.” He handed his jacket to Father. “Annie.” He took her hand in his and shot down on one knee, his palms clammy from nerves. “This isn’t how I planned this, but it’s the only thing that would make this day absolutely complete. I love you more than my own life. I think I have since I was a boy and saw you walking barefoot in the river in your short shorts while holding your dad’s hand.”

Someone did a catcall behind him.

“You would make me the happiest person alive if you would marry me.” His heart pounded in his chest as the group behind him stared on. Beauty had his heart and soul completely; the power to crush his future or make it hung on her answer. He couldn’t imagine his life without her in it. “Will you do me the honors of being my wife?”

She squeezed his wet hand. “I’m sorry, Tyler, but no…no you wouldn’t be the happiest person alive.”

He heard a faint gasp behind him as blood pounded and whooshed in his ears. “What...what do you mean?” He stood.

Annie pointed to herself as a faint smiled touched her lips. “I mean if I married you, I would be the happiest person alive.”

She was playing with him. His heart beat a new rhythm, skipping a few beats.

Stepping closer, he asked, “So, is that a yes?” He couldn’t let himself get too excited. Not until she officially said the word.

“Yes. It’s a yes.” She did a little jump. “I would love to marry you.”

“You mean it?” He squeezed her hand back.

“Of course, silly. I love you. You are my Guardian Angel.”

“And you are my stubborn, beautiful fiancée.” He tapped her nose.

“Yes.” She nodded her head. “Yes I am.”

She flew into his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist as she dipped her head and placed an ardent kiss on his lips, a kiss that sealed the past and provided new hopes of a future with them. Together.

The End